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Three new measures to improve roadside air quality would be launched on April 1, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said today (March 31).
Firstly, the Government will provide a one-off grant to encourage vehicle owners to replace their pre-Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles with new commercial vehicles complying with the prevailing emission requirements for newly registered vehicles, which, at the moment, is Euro IV standard. The grant will last for 18 months for pre-Euro vehicles and three years for Euro I vehicles.
"Replacing all pre-Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles with Euro IV models will reduce the vehicular emissions of RSP and NOx by 74% and 38% respectively. The territory-wide emissions of RSP and NOx will be reduced by 18% and 10% respectively. Such reductions would bring marked improvement to roadside air quality," the spokesman said.
There are 74,000 vehicles eligible for the grant and $3.2 billion has been earmarked for the grant scheme. Details of the grant scheme can be found at the following website: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/old_diesel_com_veh_replace_prog.html.
Secondly, buyers of newly registered environment-friendly petrol private cars will enjoy a 30% reduction in first registration tax, subject to a ceiling of $50,000 per car.
"Environment-friendly petrol private cars emit 50% less hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides and consume 40% less fuel than conventional Euro IV petrol private cars. Owing to their higher fuel efficiency, they emit 40% less carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas contributing to global warming," he said.
"To help car buyers choose environment-friendly petrol private cars, the department will issue 'Environment-friendly Private Car Certificates' to cars complying with the qualifying standards," he said.
Details of scheme are on the following website - http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/environment_friendly_private_cars.html.
Thirdly, pre-Euro diesel vehicles of vehicle weight over four tonnes and with the following body types:
(a) concrete mixer; or
(b) gully emptier; or
(c) lorry crane; or
(d) pressure tanker,
except those issued with a cross-boundary road permit, will have to install emission reduction devices. Failure to comply with this statutory requirement stipulated under the Air Pollution Control (Emission Reduction Devices for Vehicles)(Amendment) Regulation will lead to cancellation of vehicle licences.
In 2005, the Government completed a one-off grant programme to assist the owners of these vehicles install emission reduction devices. Ninety five per cent of the eligible vehicles were installed using the grant. The owners of the remaining vehicles will have to complete the installation at their own cost.
"Bringing blue sky back to Hong Kong is at the top of the Government's agenda. The launching of these schemes is another step of the Government to further improve roadside air quality," the spokesman said.
Ends/Saturday, March 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:00
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